Indian River State College Advanced Manufacturing Apprentices Named Florida Manufacturer Apprentice of the Year

November 18, 2024 Indian River State College

Jorge Pena (Left) is named Florida Manufacturer Apprentice of the Year
Gloria De Ponce (Right) is named Florida Manufacturer Apprentice of the Year

FORT PIERCE, FL (November 18, 2024) -- Indian River State College proudly announces that two Treasure Coast Advanced Manufacturing apprentices were recently recognized as the Florida Manufacturer Apprentice of the Year at FABTECH 2024 in Orlando. Florida Makes, the national Manufacturing Extension Partnership center for the state of Florida, presented the awards.

Pursuing their training at Indian River State College’s Advanced Manufacturing Hub, Jorge Pena, a mechatronics apprentice and FedEx Ground employee, and Gloria De Ponce, a CareerSource Research Coast industrial manufacturing technology apprentice and A1 Industries employee, were both recognized with this exceptional award.

Pena and De Ponce were selected from nominees across Florida for demonstrating an outstanding commitment to their professional development and going above and beyond their normal duties.

"These awards shine a spotlight on the wonderful talent emerging from Indian River State College’s Advanced Manufacturing programs," said Dr. Timothy E. Moore, president of Indian River State College. “We congratulate Gloria and Jorge on their recognition. They exemplify the bright future of American manufacturing.“

The Florida Manufacturer Apprentice of the Year Award recognizes active apprentices currently enrolled in or who recently completed a registered manufacturing apprenticeship program in the state. Nominees are evaluated on their positive impact on their employer, as well as their exceptional dedication to acquiring new skills and preparing for career advancement opportunities.

“The achievements of Gloria and Jorge are a shining example of how Indian River State College’s Advanced Manufacturing programs, in partnership with local employers, are delivering both the training and credentials needed to meet the demands of the industry. We congratulate Gloria and Jorge on this much-deserved recognition.”

Indian River State College’s Advanced Manufacturing Hub delivers accelerated programs that prepare students for in-demand careers. Courses cover automation, precision fabrication, prototyping, additive manufacturing, and other critical industry skills.

For more information about Indian River State College's Advanced Manufacturing programs, visit https://irsc.edu/.

About Indian River State College: Indian River State College, serving Florida's Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee counties, offers high-quality, affordable education to 23,000 students annually through traditional and online courses. The College provides more than 120 programs leading to bachelor's degrees, associate degrees, technical certificates, and applied technology diplomas.